A new Politico poll finds most Americans distrust crypto and AI, raising questions about whether candidates backed by industry super PACs could face voter backlash. Crypto and AI industry groups are pumping tens of millions of dollars into the 2026 midterm elections, but a new poll shows most Americans don't trust either industry. 45% of Americans say investing in cryptocurrency is not worth the risk and 44% say AI is developing too fast, according to an April survey by Public First for Politico. The survey also found that narly half trust a traditional bank over a crypto platform, and two-thirds want Congress to impose strict regulations or broad oversight principles on AI. The numbers spell trouble for candidates taking money from industry-aligned super PACs. In hypothetical matchups, poll respondents were far less likely to back candidates supported by groups pushing looser AI regulations than those backed by groups calling for tighter tech rules. Read more
Nobitex, Iran’s largest crypto exchange, was founded by brothers linked to the powerful Kharrazi family, which has ties to the country’s supreme leaders. Nobitex, Iran’s biggest crypto exchange, was founded by two brothers from one of the Islamic Republic’s most influential families with ties to the supreme leaders, according to a Reuters investigation. The exchange, which now accounts for the majority share of Iran’s crypto activity, was launched by Ali and Mohammad Kharrazi. The duo operated under the alternative surname “Aghamir,” which they used across corporate records and professional life, masking links to the Kharrazi dynasty, according to the report. The Kharrazi family has long occupied positions close to the country’s leadership, with ties spanning generations of power, including links to Ali Khamenei and his successor Mojtaba Khamenei. Read more
New York AG Letitia James secured a $5 million settlement from Uphold for promoting CredEarn, a crypto savings product that misled users about its risks. New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured more than $5 million from cryptocurrency platform Uphold over its role in promoting a fraudulent investment product. The settlement centers around Uphold’s promotion of CredEarn, a product offered by Cred, LLC and its CEO Daniel Schatt. Between January 2019 and October 2020, the platform marketed CredEarn to users on its platform and mobile app as a safe, reliable savings product with attractive annual interest payments. However, Uphold didn’t tell customers that Cred was generating those returns by making microloans to low-income video game players in China, who are typically borrowers with no credit histories and no access to traditional financial institutions, the Attorney General’s office said in an announcement. Read more
The efforts of the SEC and CFTC chairmen indicate that the crypto industry will not suffer without the CLARITY Act, according to crypto executive Chris Perkins. The US crypto industry’s momentum won’t be derailed in the long term even if the much-anticipated CLARITY Act, aimed at bringing more regulatory clarity to the crypto industry, doesn’t make it through Congress, according to 250 Digital Asset Management CEO Chris Perkins. “If not, we’re going to be just fine,” Perkins said on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction podcast on Friday, emphasizing that the two major financial regulators are already building workable frameworks. Perkins pointed to ongoing efforts by US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins and Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Michael Selig, following the agencies’ joint interpretation released in March on how federal securities laws apply to crypto assets. Read more
Despite being the best-performing month in the past 12 months, Bitcoin still came in slightly below its historical average, according to CoinGlass data. Bitcoin has posted its best-performing month in a year, prompting analysts to forecast what could lie ahead for May, which has historically delivered returns of about 8%. “Long way to go back to ATHs, but good to see some green,” Coin Bureau founder Nic Puckrin said in an X post on Friday, referring to Bitcoin’s (BTC) performance during April, which saw a monthly return of 11.87%. It marked Bitcoin’s best-performing month since April 2025, when it returned 14.08%. However, it still came in slightly below its historical April average of 12.98%, according to CoinGlass. Read more